[jennyc]

My boxer Elijah was put on ciprofloxacin 500mg 2x per day for 10 days to fight a bronchial infection he has. Eli is 71 pounds.  How safe is this med?  Has anyone else used it? My 13 wk 17lb boxer puppy is on cephlexon for the same thing.

Any input at all would be great.

Thanks,
Jenn

 

[sharonL]

Ciprofloxacin better known as Cipro is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat infections in animals caused by susceptible bacteria. This is a cross over drug so like most antibiotics it is FDA approved for humans and carrys an extra label for dogs.

I use this med to treat skin infections, UTI's, respiratory infections, and some times wounds that look to have bacteria present. This is a very effective med but as with all.... some bacteria are resistant.

I have found it is safe and effective, it has label to suggest it can cause some damage to the cartilage of they joints, in younger dogs (makes the joints swell) So it is only given to dogs above 28-29 weeks of age...That is why your pup got Cephalexin....Think of Cipro as a sooped up Cephalexin....that is what it is!!!!

I have seen it cause loose stool in a few dogs and think it is sometimes given with some food even though the label does not say it has to be......

I think it is a good broad-spec antibiotic!

 

[Dancer]

I recently had cipro prescribed for my 1 yo boxer, Dancer for a possible urinary track infection.  After her second dose her face got very swollen with her right eye almost completely closed with the heavy eyebrow.  I gave her a half dose of human antihistamine and within an hour she was better.  I almost took her to the vet ER but had company arriving so took this alternate course while keeping a close eye on her.  If her head continued to swell I would have canceled the dinner party and taken her in.  My vet is having a hard time believing that the cipro caused that but all my research does indicate that facial edema does occur but most of the references are for homosapiens....  I believe sensitivity is the same.  Any advice?

 

[jennyc]

i would request maybe the lower strength med like cephalexon....i would NOT give her the med...you need to do what is your gut instinct.  I think there has got to be another type of med out there that would treat the UTI.  I hope this helps a little.

Good Luck!!

 

[sharonL]

The label for Cipro indicates If you develop hives, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, seek
you should stop taking CIPRO.  This is a human cross over drug so the side effects could be for human or pet.

I would request something else maybe SMZ instead.

 

[Zhanna]

Dancer -

Yeah, I'd deffinately get a diff antibiotic.

 

[owenowlsnest]

We used a combination of Cipro and Flagyl last summer for a severe bout of IBD, and the vet suspected a possible pancreatic abcess. It was sort of a shot in the dark.  It was tolerated very will, and given with sulcrafate.  He recovered within a couple days, and at 9-1/2 had no side effects from the medications.

Whatever the "bug" was, it took care of it.  Never had heard of the use of these together.

Ann WI

 

[Tyoutzy]

My 9 year old; 96 lb. male boxer is also on this medication for dermatitus (flaking skin & hair falling out in patches). He recently started dripping blood from his penis (sometimes all blood sometimes blood & urine mix). This has happened to him before but if he was on the same medication is unknown. Has anyone else had this problem with this medication?

 

[highdrama1]

Cephalexin is pretty strong and I know Henri was sick with it.  Ciprofloxacin is a better antibio, I know it has less ill effect on organs such as the kidneys.  I used to work in the Renal Unit, and Cipro was one of the antibios more regularly used for infections, and the great thing was it covers most sensitivities.  I haven't had to use it with Henri.

Remember to cover with probiotics during antibiotic use.

 

[ugenldorji]

Jeepers !!! just had a terrible scare after giving our female boxer a dose of ciprofloxacin.  Her whole face, eyes especially, ears etc began to swell out just as Dancer has described happened to his/her dog.   I did a search and found precious little on the topic of allergic reactions with cipro, so I think it is important for others to be fore warned against this possible side effect.  I wonder if it is specific to the boxer breed??
She vomited the remainder of the medicine Approx 45 minutes post administration and we gave her a dose of Benadryl to reduce the swelling.  I will report back on what happens and the outcome